Predictive freeze preparation scheduling for fuel cell propulsion system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a vehicle with a traction battery and a fuel cell system, and a controller programmed to purge the fuel cell system by flowing air through it to remove moisture from the fuel cell system. The controller is configured to initiate the purge based on a distance of the vehicle from a destination, a state of charge of the traction battery, and ambient temperature conditions at the destination. The freeze preparation process can be initiated when the vehicle is approaching its destination and can be predicted using connectivity and communication with off-board sources.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a traction battery;   a fuel cell system; and   a controller programmed to,
 responsive to a distance of the vehicle from a destination being less than a threshold distance, a state of charge of the traction battery exceeding a threshold state of charge, and the fuel cell system being on, initiate a purge of the fuel cell system via flow of air through the fuel cell system to remove moisture from the fuel cell system before arriving at the destination, and 
 responsive to the distance being less than the threshold distance, the state of charge being less than the threshold state of charge, and the fuel cell system being on, preclude the purge of the fuel cell system while traveling to the destination. 
   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to the distance being less than the threshold distance, the state of charge exceeding the threshold state of charge, and the fuel cell system being auto stopped, restart the fuel cell system. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1  further comprising a compressor, wherein the controller is further programmed to activate the compressor to initiate the purge of the fuel cell system. 
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 responsive to indication that a vehicle is approaching a destination, operating a compressor to purge moisture from a fuel cell system before arriving at the destination.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the operating is performed only if a state of charge of a traction battery exceeds a threshold state of charge. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the operating is performed only if the fuel cell system is on. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising, responsive to indication that the vehicle is approaching the destination and the fuel cell system is auto stopped, restart the fuel cell system. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indication is indicative of a distance of the vehicle from a destination being less than a threshold distance. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indication is indicative of a time to the destination being less than a threshold time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indication is based on vehicle sensor data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the indication is contained in data wirelessly received by the vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . A system for a vehicle comprising:
 a controller programmed to, responsive to a time to a destination being less than a threshold time, purge the fuel cell system of moisture before arriving at the destination.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further programmed to purge the fuel cell system of moisture only if a state of charge of a traction battery is greater than a threshold state of charge. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further programmed to purge the fuel cell system of moisture only if the fuel cell system is on. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further programmed to, responsive to the time being less than the threshold time and the fuel cell system being auto stopped, restart the fuel cell system.